CHICAGO, June 3 (UPI) -- A $75 million cut in Chicago public school funding will spell longer bus rides and less cleaning, officials say.
Tim Cawley, the system's chief operating officer, told Chicago Sun-Times the slashing announced Thursday will just keep things "running in place."
"Just by lengthening some of the [bus] routes a little bit, we can save $5 million," he said.
Some $7.5 million will be saved in custodial services by cleaning only the parts of half-empty schools that are being used. And $17.2 million will be cut from the central office.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel said the cuts will strengthen his hand against the state, which owes the Chicago schools $300 million, and the Chicago Teachers Union, which will be asked for concessions. The system has a $720 million deficit.
Union President Karen Lewis said the fact that so much could be cut from administration and bureaucracy "underscores the need for more transparency."
New schools chief Jean-Claude Brizard says the cuts will not affect instruction.
